Journal 7

When Janie meets Tea Cake, she decided to run off with him. By choosing to run off with Tea Cake she has to leave behind everyone she knows and start a new life. She decides to leave because she has nothing to live for. She just runs the shop, which reminds her of how bad Joe was. Tea Cake would get her away from all of the bad memories. Janie running away shows that she cares more about love and feeling than material possessions and wealth.

Pastiche: "Janie, Ah knows Tea Cake isn't uh looney, but he aint go no money either. You sho marryin' him is yo best choice?"

"I don' know, Pheoby. I likes him, but maybe you'se right. I should know better than tu go off with a strange man. I should just quit while Ah'm ahead."

"Ah'm glad you could see it ah way. Now you go tell dat man to leave befo' he causes anymo' trouble."

That night Janie kept on thinking about Tea Cake. Was he who he said he was? Would he steal my money first chance he got? What if he was telling the truth? What if he really does love me? Tea Cake haunted her all until the blazing face of the sun peeked over the horizon.

Tea Cake showed up on her porch early as usual. "You ready to go fishin'? Ah got de worms." His smile started to fade when he saw the hardness of her face."What's wrong? Yuh don't likes fishin' no mo'?"

"It's not that, it's just...I don't want tuh see you no mo'."

Tea Cake started laughing, but then realized she wasn't joking."But why? We was doin' so well."

"Ah know, but I can't take dat risk. I can make it here fine by mahself. Jus' git on outta here." She turned away and slammed the door on him without a second look.

After that Tea Cake tried to get her to change her mind, but after a few days of futile knocking and hollering at her house, he gave up and left her there. Left her to live out the rest of her life in fear. Doubt started to burrow into her body, and got deeper and deeper as time went on. She was always alone, always doubting, always questioning. She started to lose faith in herself, in everyone, in her dreams.She didn't know what was right and what was wrong. Her doubt made her very secluded. It trapped her in the town of Eatonville. She only talked to the people she knew. Everyone else was a potential risk. Joe had taught her that.The only thing she trusted was her money. It was always there, it never changed. It was dependable. Not like that Tea Cake. Janie hadn't seen Tea Cake ever since he left. She was always wondering if leaving him was the right choice. She may never know.